Reports of giant African snails in Houston unverified

Updated 12:59 pm, Thursday, May 9, 2013

GIANT SNAILS. HOUCHRON CAPTION (04/28/2004): Giant African land snails, are illegal in the United States. The palm-size pests reproduce rapidly and can transmit meningitis.

GIANT SNAILS. HOUCHRON CAPTION (04/28/2004): Giant African land snails, are illegal in the United States. The palm-size pests reproduce rapidly and can transmit meningitis.

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Giant African land snails are seen as the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services announces it has positively identified a population of the invasive species in Miami-Dade county on September 15, 2011 in Miami, Florida. The Giant African land snail is one of the most damaging snails in the world because they consume at least 500 different types of plants, can cause structural damage to plaster and stucco, and can carry a parasitic nematode that can lead to meningitis in humans. An effort to eradicate the snails is being launched. The snail is one of the largest land snails in the world, growing up to eight inches in length and more than four inches in diameter. MIAMI, FL - SEPTEMBER 15: Giant African land snails are seen as the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services announces it has positively identified a population of the invasive species in Miami-Dade county on September 15, 2011 in Miami, Florida. The Giant African land snail is one of the most damaging snails in the world because they consume at least 500 different types of plants, can cause structural damage to plaster and stucco, and can carry a parasitic nematode that can lead to meningitis in humans. An effort to eradicate the snails is being launched. The snail is one of the largest land snails in the world, growing up to eight inches in length and more than four inches in diameter. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Giant African land snails are seen as the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services announces it has positively identified a population of the invasive species in Miami-Dade county on September

Smith-Herron said three other large but harmless snails in area gardens may be mistaken for the more dangerous giant African: the Texas native rosy wolf snail, the island apple snail and the channeled apple snail, she said. She also advised not handling any large, unidentified snails.